A body believed to be that of a missing teenager has been discovered following a distressing message sent to his mother.
Giovanni Pelletier, from North Carolina, disappeared in Englewood, Florida, on Friday, August 1, shortly after traveling there with his family.
During their vacation, Giovanni was reportedly picked up by three cousins at around 1:30 a.m. to visit other relatives in Brevard County, which is more than three hours away.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and as reported by the New York Post, Giovanni’s behavior became erratic during the trip, leading his relatives to pull over. It was alleged that he then produced a knife.
PEOPLE reports that Giovanni’s grandfather left a voicemail for his mother, Bridgette, stating that there had been a disagreement among the youths and that Giovanni was left at the roadside in Bradenton, Manatee County.
Regrettably, a body matching the description of a young male was discovered on Friday, August 8, a week after he vanished.
The remains were located in a retention pond off I-75 and State Road 70, near Giovanni’s last known location.
While his family has confirmed the tragic news, authorities have “preliminarily determined” the body to be Giovanni’s.
Giovanni’s grieving mother has shared the harrowing final message she received from him.
Just 30 minutes into his journey, while his mother was asleep, Giovanni texted: “Mom help.”
Bridgette, who was preparing for a pharmacy board exam, awoke to find missed calls and FaceTime attempts from her son.
Giovanni’s aunt, Desiree Pelletier, launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family, describing his disappearance as “deeply troubling and suspicious.”
“Giovanni is smart, kind, and full of life. He didn’t deserve this,” the aunt stated, expressing the family’s devastation and fear following his abrupt disappearance.
Since the discovery of the body, police have informed ABC 11 that no foul play is suspected, as no immediate evidence was found at the scene.
On August 1, Giovanni’s backpack and phone were discovered on the roadside.
An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death, while investigations continue.
In a social media post, Bridgette expressed: “My son was recently found after a desperate search by OUR FAMILY ALONE, and we are still facing an active investigation into his death.”
“I am living every parent’s worst nightmare, trying to find the strength to give him the goodbye he deserves.”
“We ask that you please respect our privacy at this time as we try to navigate this for his 4 younger siblings.”
Bridgette had concerns about Giovanni meeting his paternal relatives alone but wanted to support his decision.
She also noted that one relative mentioned the group had been smoking marijuana, which unsettled Giovanni.
Bridgette believes her son’s behavior was unusual and suspects he may have felt threatened before deciding to flee.